Protect lives by following provisions in the 2012 NFPA 414 to make sure aircraft rescue and fire-fighting vehicles are up to the task.

NFPA 414 specifies design, performance, and acceptance criteria for aircraft rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) vehicles intended to carry personnel and equipment to the scene of an aircraft emergency to rescue occupants and conduct rescue and fire fighting operations.

Many of the changes in the 2012 NFPA 414: Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Vehicles revolve around the development and use of larger aircraft as well as the composite materials used to manufacture them. The capacities for ARFF vehicles have to be increased to address this change as well as to ensure that the vehicles are still able to meet prescribed response time standards. Also, many ARFF vehicles are being operated by a single person and many of the devices and warnings/alarms are now designed for the single user/operator in mind.

Stay at the leading edge of safety with changes in the 2012 edition that include:

The addition of an equivalency statement to provide the AHJ or purchaser flexibility in meeting the requirements

New emphasis on Chapter 5, Aircraft Interior Access Vehicles, in response to an increase in the need for these vehicles based on the increased size of aircraft and some limitations to traditional ARFF vehicles whose primary function is fire fighting in nature. These vehicles will assist in the evacuation of passengers from aircraft in addition to the use of evacuation slides, or if the slides are not appropriate for use and deployment.

Limits on the use or removal of some extinguishing agents to based on their environmental impact, and replacement with acceptable alternatives

The entire document was also reviewed to ensure consistency with other source documents as well as commonly accepted practices as they relate to the ARFF industry. (Softbound, 82 pp., 2012)